Inquirer Interactive Inc., which publishes INQUIRER.net and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with the Department of Tourism that makes it an official media partner in communications for the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026, which will be hosted in Cebu.
The memo was signed by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Paolo R. Prieto, the president of Inquirer Interactive, at The Conservatory of the Manila Peninsula.
Also present were Shalimar Hofer Tamano, chief of staff and undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Resource Generation, and Imelda C. Alcantara, chief operating officer of Inquirer Interactive.
Under the one-year deal, the DOT will invite Inquirer to cover the ATF 2026, along with other events and programs, for which the media firm will provide ‘comprehensive coverage.’
There will be no exchange of funds between the DOT and Inquirer Interactives, each bearing its own costs and expenses.
Principal partner
According to a DOT statement, the MOU marks a collective effort to enhance tourism storytelling and amplify national initiatives across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.
Inquirer Interactive signed as a principal partner, alongside other pillars of media, including BusinessMirror, Cignal, Daily Tribune, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, The Manila Times, and The Philippine Star.
The event opened with welcome remarks from Tamano, followed by a video presentation showcasing the continued rise and development of Cebu as the host city for ATF 2026.
After the signing, Prieto expressed Inquirer Interactive’s commitment to responsible and impactful tourism storytelling, saying:
‘This memorandum of understanding deepens that alignment [with the DOT]. Over the next year, Inquirer will provide comprehensive coverage of the DOT’s events and initiatives, including the Love the Philippines campaign and the Asean Tourism Forum 2026. Across our digital platforms, we will continue to amplify stories that connect Filipinos, promote responsible travel, and highlight communities whose livelihoods depend on tourism.’
‘We thank Secretary Frasco and the DOT for trusting Inquirer as your official media partner. We look forward to supporting your programs and ensuring that the stories of our people, our destinations, and our industries reach audiences here and around the world,’ he continued.
‘Together, let us help advance a tourism sector that reflects the resilience, creativity, and spirit of the Filipino nation. Thank you, and we look forward to a meaningful partnership,’ he added.
DOT’s 2025 iniatives
In 2025, the DOT’s successful initiatives included the promotion and preservation of marine biodiversity in dive spots, halal tourism, and golf tourism.
Frasco addressed the guests and pillars of media in her message, as well as crediting Assistant Secretary Ina Loyola.
‘Today’s gathering in every sense is a gathering of people who care about Philippine tourism.. If we take a moment to look back to the year behind us was anything but calm,’ she said, mentioning the natural calamities and other issues of national importance.
‘Here we are today, not discouraged by any means, but standing stronger. Because even in this chaos, I say this with the conviction [that] Philippine tourism shows one of the silver linings of our national story,’ she added.
Frasco went on to mention relief assistance for tourism workers, who are the backbone of Philippine tourism, as well as record revenues for employment, high domestic tourism, tourist rest areas across the country, and more successes of the DOT in the year so far.
According to the DOT statement, ‘The partnership moving into 2026 underscores the shared vision between DOT and the country’s media organizations to promote a safe, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism industry – one that uplifts communities and showcases the Philippines’ cultural and natural richness, in both land and spirit.